Production test IP-362-A, irradiation of heavy walled tubular elements with thick outer jackets

Technical Report · Wed Nov 02 04:00:00 EST 1960

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10175897· OSTI ID:10175897

Kratzer, W K

The objective of the production test detailed in this report is to evaluate the effect of a 36 mil Zircaloy-2 outer jacket on the behavior of heavy walled tubular elements during high temperature irradiation. Zircaloy-2 jacketed unalloyed natural uranium fuel elements nominally 1.43 inch OD, 0.52 inch ID, with 36 mil jackets on the outer surfaces will be irradiated in the KER Loops to an exposure not greater than 3500 WD/T. Several of the fuel element failures that have occurred during testing in the KER Loops have apparently resulted from localized jacket thinning on the external surfaces of high exposure elements. One of the methods proposed to prevent this failure mechanism was to increase the Zircaloy-2 jacket thickness on the fuel element outer surface. The fuel elements authorized by this production test have been prepared with nominally 36 mil external jackets. The behavior of these elements will be compared to the behavior of similar elements with 20 mil jackets currently being irradiated in KER-3.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Richland, WA (United States). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 10175897
• Report Number(s): HW--67277; ON: DE94017264
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300
220600
EXPERIMENT PLANNING
FAILURES
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HANFORD PRODUCTION REACTORS
IRRADIATION
RESEARCH
TEST
TRAINING
PRODUCTION
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS
TESTING
THICKNESS
ZIRCALOY 2